MILLINOCKET -- Yesterday, March 13, 2007, I entered the gates of heaven, having lived a full life. I was born in Millinocket in 1941, the son of Norman and Marion (Hope) Burby.

Here I was educated, and have raised my family and lived most of my life. Like many of my friends, I worked at Great Northern Paper for the majority of my working years, retiring in 1996. I was a member of Paper Maker's Union No. 152 for 31 years.

Growing up and living in Northern Maine, I had a deep love of the outdoors, and spent a great deal of time fishing and hunting with my friends and my wife, Liz. Every May I spent a month fishing at Chamberlain Lake, my favorite spot. My family meant the world to me, and I never blurred the lines between my natural born children and the children of my loving wife, Liz - they were of equal importance to me.

My mother, Marion Lyons survives me and now lives in Bangor. My wife, with whom I have shared the last 25 years in marriage, Elizabeth "Liz" (Foster) Burby, also survives and lives in Millinocket. I leave four children: Catherine Leavitt and her husband, Walter, of Old Town, Teresa Kelley and her husband, George, of Hampden, Karl Burby and his wife, Linda, of North Carolina, and Patience Coon and her husband, Robert, of Winterport; Liz's four children: Michael Heath and his wife, Roberta, of Patten, Stephen Heath and his wife, Rhoda, of Stacyville, Ellen Van Dine and her husband, Chip, of Millinocket and Lorinda Waltz and her husband, Jeff, of Cornville. I also am survived by 10 grandchildren; a special uncle, Dean Hope and his wife, Hazel, of Bangor; and a special friend, Robert Cunningham.

I am joining my grandparents; my mother's second husband, Joe Lyons; and my good friend and fishing buddy, Smitty.

My wish is to have no formal funeral services, but to be remembered by those I loved and who loved me. Please send any monetary remembrances of me to the Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field Street, Millinocket, ME 04462.